My father used to say buying a used car was like buying someone elses troubles. That seemed very true back in the early days ( 60's, 70's, 80's) but certainly less true now. The high price of new automobiles can make a good quality used car very appealing and after all you don't get that instant depreciation when you drive off the lot. If memory serves me correctly that figure used to be about 30%. Wow on a $35000 vehicle that is a whopping $10,500.